Electrically controlled baseball game



Jan. 10, 1950 E. P- KOPPIN ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED BASEBALL GAME FiledDec. 4, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l III INVENTOR. EUGENE P KOPPIN haz dELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED BASEBALL GAME Filed Dec. 4,. 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR. EUGENE P KOPPIN Patented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES.

TENT OFFICE ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED BASEBALL GAME The present inventionrelates to improvement in an electrically controlled baseball gameadapted for play by two players.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an electricallycontrolled baseball game wherein the simulated position and movement ofa base runner may be indicated by the progressive illumination of aseries of electric lights arranged along the base lines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide such a baseballgame wherein the progressive illumination of the base line lights isunder the control of the player representing the batting team andwherein the defensive player may simulate a play at one or more of thebases by selectively illuminating player lights representing defensiveplayers located at the various bases and home plate. Means beingprovided to maintain or simulate one or more runners on the bases inaccordance with conventional baseball rules and to extinguish one ormore of the player lights at the bases when the players are out inaccordance with the rules of-the game.

Other objects of this invention will appear in' the followingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification where in like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is essentially a top elevation of a baseball game embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is essentially a fragmentary enlarged vertical section with theelectrical wiring removed, taken in the direction of the arrows alongthe diagonal line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of an electrical circuit-suitablefor use with the pres ent invention.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Alsoit is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employedherein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. I

Briefly, the present invention provides a game which may be played bytwo opposing players.

A slightly inclined table is marked out to simulate a baseball diamond,including a pitchers mound, batters box, and first, second, third, andhome bases. The ball is pitched from the pitchers mound byelectromagnetic means under the control of the defensive player androlls toward home plate to an electromagnetically actuated bat under thecontrol of the offensive player. A,

pair of electric lights, preferably of different colors, are located ateach of the bases and may be selectively illuminated by an electricalcontrol circuit under the control of the playersto simulate the positionof a player or the ball.

The movement or position of a base runner on or between the bases issimulated by a series of electric lights arranged in a row along thebase lines between the bases and adapted to be progressively illuminatedby means of a come of the commutator. Upon illuminating the light whichsimulates a batter at home plate, the ball is brought into play by thedefensive player who actuates the.

pitching mechanism and pitches a ball toward the bat. As the ball rollsdown the inclined table or playing field from the pitchers mound towardhome plate, the offensive player actuates;

the bat so as to drive the ball into the playing field. The timing ofthe swing of the bat is under the control of the batter so that-skillmay be exercised in determining the direction in which the ball isbatted.

Immediately upon striking a fair ball, the

batter or offensive player operates the commutator to progressivelyilluminate the series of base line lights from home plate to first base,and thereby to simulate the advance of his runner" toward first base.Meanwhile, the ball eventue ally rolls to its initial position withinthe pitch ing mechanism by virtue of the inclined table,

indicating that the ball has been fielded and is permitting thedefensive player to simulate a play at any of the bases by selectivelyilluminating one of the defensive lights at the corresponding base.

If the runner reaches first base before the defens'ive player is enabledto illuminate the first baseman light at first base, the runner is safeat first. The lamp representing the runner will remain illuminated atfirst base. If the runner at.- tempts to reach second base, as indicatedby the progressive illumination of the baseline lights between firstandsecond bases, and the ball is recovered by the defensive team beforethe runner reaches second base, he may be trapped between. first andsecond bases if the defensive player simulates that the ballis under thecontrolof the first and second basemen by illuminating the de- 3 fensivelights at first and second bases. The light representing the runner isthen extinguished. The home plate light is again illuminated to indicatethataa secondbatter is up,the ballis "again pitched, and'the-gamecontinues-essentially in ac the four legs l2 which are braced by lthewire" braces I3. A portion of the upper surface of the housing iscovered by the horizontal Leshaped shelf 14 which extends along twosides.;oi .the

housing. .The baseball .field 15 preferably .comprises a transparentplate-of glass, Blexiglas,.or. similar material marked oretched to.simulate .a.

baseball field, including home plate .-.and.first,.secnd, and thirdbases, indicated respectively by the characters H, I, II, and III. Baselines llB are marked on the field between the bases. The pitchers .moundH and batters box 18 are also suitably marked on thefield l 5.

The field I5 is preferably tilted downward toward home 'plate H fromth'ediagonally opposite corner-so asto providea gradual downward slope;

to the field toward home plate along all lines parallel to the diagonalbetween second and home bases. First and third bases are at the samelevel. Similarly, all lines gparallel to the diagonal joining first andthird bases are horizontal. Thus a ball on the'field 15, free to roll inany direction, will roll. down the incline in "a direction parallel tothediagonaljoining'second and home bases.

Four openings T9 are provided within the-field i5 immediately outsidethe base lines l6. Similarholes 2B are located in theleft: and rightoutfields, and an L-shaped hole 2 I is provided "at the far centerfield. It is proposed, according to the rules of the game, that aballfalling through thecenter portion ISA, MA, or 2IA of'oneof theopenings 19, 20, or 2|;respectively, will be indi cated as a fly out.Whenthe ballialls through one of the-lateralportions of :one :of theopeningsv I9, 28, or 2l ,-an out is notindicated, .but the return of theball to its starting position within the pitching mechanism is:accelerated.

Another opening 22 is centrally located-within the .pitchers mound 11 toprovide passageifor-the arcuate pitching-tube 23. Ania-shaped opening 24behindhome plate is provided for eventually receiving the ball if itdoes not previouslydrop through one-of the aforesaid openingstlii zfi,2!, 01x22. The hall .in-play is-maintained withinzthe confines of thefield, l5 bytharails. 25 whichsup port .the transparent top -26 covering:the-zentirex playin field l 5.

Above the centerfield-iopening- 2i and located.essentiallymidway.betweenthe ciently to land in .the bleachers 2'!,cannot.dropthrough the. opening :21 and may beconsiderema home run.

Below theplayingfieldfllf, is abaSinIZB, which is adapted to catch theball after it drops through any of the aforesaid openings in the fieldl5, and is declined toward a ball receiving funnel openlug-I2 9 ilocatedessentially J below the pitchers mound ll. Thus a ball positioned at anyplace on the playing field [5 will roll down the inclinatiOIl thereof.If the ball does not previously fall through one of the-openings 19through 22, it will eventually reach one of the rails 25 runningparallel to the first and third base lines 16 to the opening 24. lifterdropping through the field [5, the ball rollsalong .the inclined basin28 to the funnel opening 29 through which it drops to the pitchingposition within the chamber 33, where the ball, indicated by 34 in Fig.2, comes to rest in;front of the'end-of the pitching plunger 35 and-atthe. mouth of 'the lower opening of the pitching tube 23.

The plunger-.35 normally-spring-pressed to theleitby-thecoil spring36-around the leftward endof the plunger .35 and under compressionbetweenthe flanged plunger head .37 and the plunger supporting bracket38. The plunger .35 is actuated at thediscretion of the player rep-,resentingthe defensive. team byan electric solenoidoperatedmechanism46, supported on the base-l6, and strikes the .ball 34.to.drive itthrough thepitching tube23. The driving stroke of the plunger 35 to theright'is limited by contact between the movement limiting stop 39 andthe side of the plunger housing 4!, which latter, together with thebracket 38, are supported on the housing .48. Alsov supported on thebase in is the solenoid actuated batting mechanism 44 which is operatedat'the discretion of the player representing the "batting or ofiensiveteam to pivot the upright bat operating shaft 45 and thereby'toswingthe'bat 46 secured to the upper end of the shaft.

Operation of the game and control of the play by the opposing players'iseffected by an elec tric'control circuit shown schematically in Fig. 3.As outlined above, the offensive player may ad- Vancehis men along thebase lines by rotating the manually operated crank 6'1, which isoperatively connected, as for example'by a wormdriven connection, withthe commutator 48 for rotation thereof. Details of the electricalmechanism, including the commutator 48, the solenoid qactuated pitchingand batting mechanisms 46 and 44, and'their operable mechanical linkagesare well known to the art and are accordingly not described'in-detailherein. Also, for the sake of simplicity-and clarity, the electricalwiring of the control circuit is not shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

iPowerrfor-the:electrical control circuit is suppliedihrough theterminalsS and 5! which may be considered the live lead and the groundrespectively for the sake ofiillustration. The four relay/5 54A. B, .C,and D, are connected in parallel between'the ground and the four camoperated switches 56A, B, C, and D respectively by the fourelectricalconductors 55A, B, C, and D respectively. The-switches 56A, B, C, and Dare operated in'sequence by the four cams 51A, B,

C, and B, respectively, carried by therotatabie commutator for rotationtherewith.

The cams Sl' and corresponding cam switches 55:are shownspaced atdifierent radii from the centerci the commutator 48 so that uponcounter-clockwise rotation of the commutator 48, for example, cam 57Awill close thecam operated switchbiA.whenrotated to-a position ofcontact therewith, schematically indicated along the vertical.downwardiradius of the .camAB in Fig. 3.

56A, the cam 5113 will be in position to close the cam switch 56B.Likewise, cam switches 56C and 56D are closed by the cams 51C and 51Dupon rotation of the commutator lfi through'successive quarter turns.commutator 43 may be rotated in either direction at the discretion ofthe oilensive player.

As schematically indicated by the difierent radial spacings of the fourcams 5'! and four cam switches 56, the earns 57 are preferably spacedaround the periphery of the commutator 48 at different vertical levels.The corresponding cam switches 56 are spaced at corresponding verticallevels. Accordingly, each cam switch 56A, B, C, or D will be tripped andclosed only by its respective cam 51A, B, C, or D. As each cam switch 56is closed in turn, the circuit through the corresponding relay 5:; iscompleted to the power 49, thereby energizing the said relay 54 andclosing the associated relay switch 58A, B, C, or D. The closing of eachrelay switch 58A, B, C, or D, upon energizing the respective relay 54A,B, C, or D, connects the corresponding brush 59A, B, C, or D with thepower line 49. The brushes 59A, B, C, and D make electrical contact withthe rotating ring conductors 63A, B, C, and D respectively, which areconnected by the conductors 64A, B, C, and D respectively with theterminal brushes or contacts 65A, B, C, and D respectively forselectively completing a circuit with one of the plurality of base lineelectric light terminals 61, uniformly spaced stationarily around theperiphery of the commutator 48.

The four ring conductors 63 and their corresponding leads 6d andterminal contacts 65 rotate with the commutator 48. The contacts 65 arespring-pressed toward the terminals 61 so as to progressively contactthe latter upon rotation of the commutator 48, and thereby to progresssively light the plurality of base and base line lights 69. The base andbase line lights 69 are connected with their respective terminals 6! bythe plurality of conductors 68, and are grounded to the portion of thelead to extended within the diamond formed by the lights 69.

In the present example, fourteen base line lights 69sare evenlydistributed along the base line l6 between each pair of the base lights69H, 691, 652 and making sixty base and base line lights around theperiphery of the diamond. Each base light 69H. 691, 692, and 693 islocated under its corresponding base, H, I, II, or III. The bases andbase lines are preferably stained or etched in the plate !5 so as to betransparent and to permit visibility of the lights 69 when illuminated.As may be seen in Fig. 2, the base and base line lights 69 are supporteddirectly below the base lines it by the support 10, which latter issuitably secured to the side portions H of the housing.

For the sake of illustration, the uppermost terminal 6TH around thecommutator 48 may be considered to represent the terminal for the light69H representing a batter at home plate. When one of the moving contacts65 is energized and in contact with the terminal 67H, the home baselight 69H is illuminated. As the energized terminal 65 rotates clockwiseupon rotation of the commutator 48 to the next terminal 67, the nextlight 69 in the series between home plate and first base is illuminated.Likewise, as the energized In operation of the game, the

6 contact moves around the commutator in a clockwise direction, thethird, fourth, fifth, and remaining base line lights 69 areprogressively illuminated. The fifteenth terminal 61, counting clockwisefrom 61H, is for the base light 691 representing a runner on first base.The next fifteenth terminal is for the base light 692 representing arunner on second base, and the next iii-- teenth terminal 61 is for thebase light 693 representing a runner on third base. In order to avoid amultiplicity of electrical conductors in the wiring diagram, Fig. 3, theplurality of leads 68 from the terminals 61 on opposite halves of thecommutator 48 are shown entering the pair of electrical cables 13 fromwhich the individual leads 68 branch out to their corresponding lights69.

By way of illustration, the circuit of one of the lights 69 is followedin detail, assuming that the cam 510 has contacted and closed the camswitch 560, completing the circuit through the relay 54C and therebyclosing the normally open relay switch 58C. Closing of the relay switch580 immediately provides a by-pass circuit from loads 49 to 59 throughthe relay 54, permitting the cam 57C to ride off and open the cam switch560 without de-energizing the relay 54C. The circuit through the closedrelay switch 580 also energizes the brush 59C and completes anelectrical circuit.

through the ring contact 63C, the conductor 640,

the rotating contact 850, one of the terminals 61,

its associated lead 68 and base or base line light 69, and then to theground 50.

By the commutator arrangement shown, it is apparent that the offensiveplayer may simulate the advance or retreat of his men along the baselines and from base to base by rotating the commutator 48 so as toprogressively light the lights 69. When a runner is put out inaccordance with the rules of the game, either at one of the bases orbetween the bases, the light 69 representing that player is extinguishedby means of one of the manually operated normally open switches 141,2Switch 141, for example, is in parallel with the light 691, and isadapted upon closing to short out light 69, by connecting the particularlead 68 for the light 69, to the ground 50. When the commutator 68 ismoved to position anyone of the energized rotating contacts 65 over theterminal 61 for the light 691, and switch 14, is closed, light 691 andlikewise the relay 54 through which the light 69, is energized will beshortened by directing the power from line 49, through the appropriaterelay switch 58, to ground 50. For exampla'if the rotating contact 650is energized and concentrically located over the terminal for the light691, i. e., the fifteenth clockwise terminal 61 after 6TH, the currentfor the light 691 will necessarily be supplied through the conductor 640from the rotating ring contact 63C in contact with V the brushl59C,which in turn will be connected through the relay 54C via the relayswitch 580.

Closing switch '54, in this situation will direct the power from line 49through relay switch 580, the

brush 59C, ring 63C, conductor 64C, contact 65C,

and thelead 68 (which would otherwise energize light 69) and switch 14,to the ground 50. Thus electric energy to relayEtC will be shortened toground 56 and the normally open relay switch 580 will open,de-energizing contact 656 until further rotation of the commutator 48again closes cam switch 560. The normally open switches M2 and M3 aresimilarly connected to short out the lights 692 and 693 at second andthird bases respectively for de-energizing the contacts 65 whichenergize these lights.

amazes 7'. Whenitheiball 2343s atcthe pitching .position within thechamber ":33, iitzmay- :be pitched closing the manually operatednormally open pitching switch '15P .which completes 'a circuit from thepower line :49 through :the solenoid operated pitching :mechanism '40and to ground 50,-drivingthe plunger 35 'to'theright in Fig. 2 andpitching the ball through: the tubei23, which directs the ball from thepitchers mound I! .toward home plate H.

As the ball 34' nears the bat 46, the offensive player times itsapproach :and, at the proper instant to bat'the ball into the playingfield l5, closes the normally open manual switch 163 to complete thecircuit from :the power line 49 throughthe solenoidoperated battingmechanism 44 -tothe ground-50, thereby pivoting the shaft 45- and:swinging the bat- 46.

The ball 34 rolls under its own momentum across. the field iii-and mayor may not fall into one of the openingsl9A,"20A,or 2 Hi. If the ballfalls into one of the openings ISA, 20A, or 21A, :it closes oneoi thecorresponding switches TI, 318, :or 19, schematically indicated somewhatin'theirproperlocations with respectto the field |5-',Fig. 3.'Theballi34 is preferably an electric conductor, andthe switches 11, I8,and 19 are preferably resilient spaced contacts which are momentarilybridged as the ball 34 falls through one. of the corresponding openingsl 9A, 20A, or 121A. As theball bridges one of the spaced contacts 11,18, 'or 19, connected in parallel witheach other'and the ground 50, andconnected'in series-withthe circuit for the fly out light 83 andithepower lead :49, the light'83,

supportedfrom the support HI below the transparent field.zl8,is-momentarily illuminated to indicate aiflyzout.

If the ball does not fall through one of the openingsrl-BA, 20A,or'.2lA, itmay'be considered 1 in :play until it eventuallyrolls to itsstarting position within the chamber 33,- whereat it bridges the spacedcontacts 84, schematically shown in Fig. 3. At this time, theiball 34may .be considered within the control of the defensive team, 1

since the defensive player may now complete a circuitthrough one ofthe"normally open manual-switches #51, H. The switches 851,2,3, H connectthe power :line 49 through the bridged contacts 84 to the corner lights861,2,3, H, re-

spectively. which may be selectively illuminated to represent the:first,-second, and'thirdbasemen, and catcher, respectively, and whichare preferably colored differentlyfrom' the base and base linelights 69.

By selectively closing one of the switches 85 and illuminating thecorresponding defensive player light 88, a play at one of the bases maybe simulated. For example, after the batter hits the ball 34 into theplaying .field 15, the simulated advance of the batter or runner alongthe base lines is effected by rotating the commutator 48 clockwise. Ifthe ball should be considered a fair'hit but should. return to thechamber 33 and bridge the :terminals 84 :before the runner reaches first'base, asindicated by the extent of progressiomof illuminationof thebase line lights 69, the :defensive' player may close the'switch 851 andilluminatethe light 86,

simulating that the-ball '34 hasbeen fielded and thrown to thefirstbaseman;.thereby putting the runner out. If the runner should reachfirst basebefore the terminals 84-;and:.switch:851 are closed, the.:runner isssaieaat first; .In this in stance the first base light 391will .beiilluminated 8 and the relay 8.11 intseries :with the .light 691will be energizeditoopenthe normally closed relayswitch 881 .in :serieswith the first baseman lightflfii. Thusitwillnot be possible for thedefensive player 1tomake a successful play at first base,- byilluminating .the first baseman light 861, while therrunnerris safe'onfirst base. Simi-.

larly,:.the relaysziflmare in series with the base lights 2692,: and arecenergized to open the normally closed relay switches 882,3respectively, in series-with .the second and third baseman lights862,-3respectively. Accordingly, the second and third basemenlights-862,3 cannot be illuminated while the secondandthird base lights692,3 respectively, are illuminated.

It-isbelieved-that the operation-of the game is quiteqapparent in -.viewof "the above disclosure. The srules of the game may be subject toconsiderable'variation although it is proposed that the -play. oithe-game 'will be somewhat as follows:

The game :is adapted to :be played by two opposing players who willfollow conventional baseballrules-asnearly as'practicable. The bat- .terup will be represented by rotating the commutator until oneofthe-contacts 65 is aligned with the terminalBIH. The corresponding camswitch SE-Willthen be closed and the light 69H will be illuminated.Furthermore, the contact 65 involved will remain energized after openingof the cam switch 58, by virtue of the corresponding holding circuit,from lead 49, through therespective relayswitch 58 andrelay 54, andtothe groundfifl, which holding circuit will energize the relay 54involved until .the closing of the proper switch. The defensive playerthen pitches the ball 34 by closing the switch -1 SP. The offensiveplayer exercises ,hisskill in timing the approach of the ball in anendeavor to bat the .ball .34 where desired into the playing field I5.

If hemakes .afair hit which 1 does not fall into one of the openingsISA, 20A, or 21A, he is credited witha hit-and may advance his playeralong'the base lines .byrotating the commutator 48 clockwise asrapidlyas possible, at the same timekeeping his eye upon .the ball. 34 which isvisible through the.field [.5 even while in the basin ZBbelow. Theoffensive .player may advance his man as farashe .dares without beingtrapped between bases upon .the return of the ball 34 to itsinitialposition within the chamber 33, whereat the contacts 84 are closed topermit the defensive player tomake a play at any one or more of.thebases.

If for example the first runner reaches first base safely, thefirstbaselight 691 will be illuminated. Also while the light 691 isilluminated, the four rotating contactsfili will be aligned in contactwith the four terminals 67 at the four quarters of the commutator 48,measured from the terminal 61H. Accordingly, the next following contacts65will be in contact with the terminal 6lH,'and thecorrespondingcamswitch 56 will'be closed-to energizethe said contact 65engaged with the terminal 61H. The illumination of the light 69H willindicate that the second batter is-up.

The second batter similarly strives for a hit, and if successful,advances'along the base lines by the progression of base line lights 69upon rotation of the commutator 48. At the same time and at the samerate, the first runner will advance along the base lines from first tosecond base. If the'defensiveplayer is enabled to illuminate the firstbaseman light Bel-before the secrepresenting the second runner at firstbase is.

extinguished by de-energizing the second contact 65 in control of thatlight. From then on, until the subsequent closing of the appropriate camswitch 56, no base or base line lights 69 will be illuminated throughthe contact 65 which formerly controlled the simulated position of thesecond runner. If the first runner has safely reached second base, thesecond base light 692 will be illuminated. Similarly, the light 69H willalso be illuminated by the position of the third successive contact 65to indicate that the third batter is up.

If at any time during the course of the play, a simulated runner istrapped between bases by the simultaneous illumination of the basemenlights 86 behind and ahead of the runner, that runner will be consideredout and the light circuit for the base light 69 representing that runnerwill be broken by opening the proper switch 14 when the contacts 65 areproperly aligned at the four quarters of the commutator 48. Thecommutator 48 may be rotated in either direction so that the men may beadvanced or retracted along the base lines at the discretion of theplayers. It is apparent that most of the actual plays of baseball may besimulated by the controls shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a baseball game adapted for competitive play by a pair of playersand utilizing a ball adapted to roll over a simulated playing field, thecombination of a playing board marked to simulate a baseball diamond, abatting mechanism controlled by one player and adapted to bat said ballalong the playing field, a pitching mechanism controlled by the otherplayer and adapted to direct the ball toward said batting mechanism, andmeans controlled by the pair of players for selectively actuating saidbatting and pitching mechanisms, said playing field being inclinedtoward the pitching mechanism to return a ball from its position on saidboard to said pitching mechanism after said ball has been batted by saidbatting mechanism, said board having baselines marked on the playingfield, a plurality of electric base line lights linearly arranged alongsaid base lines, an electric commutator adapted for reversible operationand operatively connected electrically with said plurality of base linelights for progressively illuminating the latter, and means controlledby the players for regulating the speed and direction of operation ofsaid commutator to simulate the advance or retreat of a runner alongsaid base line, said playing field being provided with a plurality ofopenings adapted to pass the ball through said board, and having 10latter until the return of said balls to said initial pitching position.

2. In a baseball game adapted for competitive play by a pair of playersand utilizing a ball adapted to roll over a simulated playing field, thecombination of a playing board marked to simulate a baseball diamond, abatting mechanism controlled by one player and adapted to bat the ballalong said playing field, means on the playing field adapted to returnthe ball to an initial position, means controlled by a player adapted tosimulate the runner on the baselines of the baseball field and adaptedto regulate the speed and direction of the advance or retreat of therunner along the lines, a defensive player light positioned at each ofthe bases of the playing field, means for simulating a defensive play atany one of the bases and including a defensive electric control circuitfor selectively illuminating said defensive player lights, and anelectric control means at said initial position and operativelyconnected with an inclined basin provided below said playing field toreturn said ball to the pitching position within said pitchingmechanism, and a defensive player light positioned at each of the basesof said playing field and means for simulating a defensive play at anyone of said bases and including a defensive electric control circuit forselectively illuminating said defensive player lights, and an electriccontrol means at said initial pitching position and operativelyconnected with said defensive control circuit to prevent operation ofthe said defensive control circuit to prevent operation of the latteruntil the return of the ball to said initial position.

3. In a baseball game adapted for competitive play by a pair of playersand utilizing a ball adapted to roll over a simulated playing field, thecombination of a playing board marked to simulate a baseball diamond, abatting mechanism controlled by one player and adapted to bat the ballalong said playing field, a pitching mechanism controlled by the otherplayer and adapted to direct the ball towards said batting mechanism andmeans controlled. by the pair of players for selectively actuating saidbatting and pitching mechanism, means positioned on the simulatedplaying field adapted to return the ball to said pitching mechanismduring which time the ball is considered in play, a plurality ofelectric base line lights linearly arranged along the base lines of thediamond of the playing field and adapted to indicate the progress of arunner moving between the bases and controlled by the players forregulating the speed and direction of the simulated advance or retreatof a runner along the base lines, a defensive player light positioned ateach of the bases of the playing field, means for simulating a defensiveplay at any one 01' the bases and including a defensive electric controlcircuit for selectively illuminating said defensive player lights, andan electrically controlled means at said initial pitching position andoperatively connected with said defensive control circuit to preventoperation of the latter until the :eturn of said balls to said initialpitching posiion.

EUGENE P. KOPPIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 988,829 Smiley Apr. 4, 1911994,963 Sutton June 13, 1911 1,074,414 Detrick Sept. 30, 1913 1,193,745Wilson Aug. 8, 1916 1,943,685 Mayorga Jan. 16, 1934 1,980,125 WhitneyNov. 6, 1934

